Top Items:
Murphy / The Beast:
Koch Whore — Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker answers his master's call — “David Koch”: We'll back you any way we can. What we were thinking about the crowd was, uh, was planting some troublemakers. — Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker: You know, well, the only problem with that—because we thought about that...
Discussion:
The Huffington Post, JSOnline, The Atlantic Online, Washington Monthly, Little Green Footballs, Ben Smith's Blog, CANNONFIRE, The New Republic, Salon, AOL News, The Raw Story, blue cheddar, AMERICAblog News, WisPolitics Budget Blog, Wonkette, The Right Sphere, driftglass, Tucson Citizen, Power Line, Muckety, Mercury Rising, The Future of Capitalism, Daily Kos, Oliver Willis, Parker Spitzer and The Impolitic
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Adam Weinstein / Mother Jones:
Did Scott Walker Get Crank-Call Pwned? (AUDIO) — Is that really Scott Walker? A New York-based alt-news editor says he got through to the embattled Wisconsin governor on the phone Tuesday by posing as right-wing financier David Koch...then had a far-ranging 20-minute conversation about the collective bargaining protests.
Greg Sargent / The Plum Line:
Governor Walker's office confirms prank Koch call — The Internet is burning up with the news that Governor Scott Walker may have been pranked by a caller claiming to be David Koch, and a spokesman for the Governor, Cullen Werwie, emails a statement confirming the call is legit:
Discussion:
Crooks and Liars, Daily Kos, New York Magazine, Althouse, The Maddow Blog and msnbc.com
David Weigel / Slate:
Did Scott Walker Reveal His Crisis-Ending Ruse to a Prank Caller? — MADISON, Wisc. — The governor's main line is busy, so I'll have to grab an in-person spokesman confirmation or denial in a bit. * Until then: Ian Murphy of the Buffalo Beast claims to have posed as “David Koch” …
Discussion:
The Hill, Associated Press and AmSpecBlog
Michelle Malkin:
The Howard Stern-ing of the Wisconsin showdown — A left-wing website that specializes in pranking celebrities, pundits, and politicians — a la Howard Stern — is doing a Snoopy dance over a fake call its operatives made to GOP Gov. Scott Walker. — The hoaxer pretended to be David Koch, the progs' favorite capitalist target.
Discussion:
The Huffington Post, Ben Smith's Blog, Salon and WFRV-TV
Sam Stein / Reuters:
Gov. Walker Informed That Bill Targeting Unions May Cost State $46 Million In Federal Funds … WASHINGTON — Budget referees and transportation officials in Wisconsin have informed Gov. Scott Walker (R) that if he were to pass his controversial anti-union legislation into law …
Discussion:
The Huffington Post, Outside the Beltway, Taylor Marsh and AFL-CIO NOW BLOG
David Dayen / Firedoglake:
Wisconsin Governor Walker Punked by Fake Koch Call — This is priceless. Ian Murphy of Buffalo Beast (the site appears to be down at the moment, but twolf1 has posted both videos on MyFDL) called up Gov. Scott Walker, posing as wealthy industrialist and campaign donor David Koch. They had a 20-minute chat.
Discussion:
Dependable Renegade
Tim Fernholz / NationalJournal.com:
Bait and Switch? — Walker's budget plans don't fix what he says is the crisis.
Bait and Switch? — Walker's budget plans don't fix what he says is the crisis.
Discussion:
The Atlantic Online, The Plum Line, Saint Petersblog, The Raw Story, TPMDC and Yglesias
Judith Davidoff / host.madison.com:
Koch brothers quietly open lobbying office in downtown Madison
Koch brothers quietly open lobbying office in downtown Madison
Discussion:
Weigel, The Awl, Sky Dancing, Guardian, Minneapolis Star Tribune, Sunlight Foundation Blog, TPMDC and ThinkProgress
Michael Barone / Washington Examiner:
Public unions force taxpayers to fund Democrats
Public unions force taxpayers to fund Democrats
Discussion:
theblogprof, Coffee & Markets, The Gateway Pundit, Betsy's Page, Cold Fury and NewsBusters.org
Steven Pearlstein / Washington Post:
Making sense of Wisconsin's union showdown
Making sense of Wisconsin's union showdown
Discussion:
Balkinization, Firedoglake, Saint Petersblog and Ezra Klein
Edward Morrissey / The Week Magazine:
The real threat to democracy in Wisconsin
The real threat to democracy in Wisconsin
Discussion:
Left Coast Rebel, Daily Kos, theblogprof and Michelle Malkin
The United States Department of Justice:
Statement of the Attorney General on Litigation Involving the Defense of Marriage Act — WASHINGTON - The Attorney General made the following statement today about the Department's course of action in two lawsuits, Pedersen v. OPM and Windsor v. United States, challenging Section 3 of the Defense …
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Marc Ambinder / NationalJournal.com:
Obama Won't Go to Court Over Defense of Marriage Act — An opponent of California's Prop 8 holds an American flag and gay pride flag during a demonstration outside of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on Dec. 6, 2010 in San Francisco. — President Obama believes that the Defense …
Discussion:
National Review, Hot Air and Indecision Forever
Ryan J. Reilly / TPMMuckraker:
Obama, DOJ Say Part Of DOMA Is Unconstitutional, Will Not Defend It In Court
Obama, DOJ Say Part Of DOMA Is Unconstitutional, Will Not Defend It In Court
Discussion:
Guardian
Jonathan Capehart / PostPartisan:
Breaking News: Obama action against DOMA coming
Breaking News: Obama action against DOMA coming
Discussion:
Pam's House Blend
Lauraklairmont / CNN:
Justice Department will no longer defend DOMA in legal challenges
Justice Department will no longer defend DOMA in legal challenges
Discussion:
The Politico
First Read / msnbc.com:
Obama admin will no longer defend federal marriage act in court
Obama admin will no longer defend federal marriage act in court
Discussion:
Hit & Run
Emily Schultheis / The Politico:
Newt Gingrich confronted over affair — PHILADELPHIA — Newt Gingrich's speech at the University of Pennsylvania Tuesday night quickly took a turn for the dramatic when the first student to question him brought up his admitted extra-marital affair and accused him of being “hypocritical” for espousing moral values.
Discussion:
Firedoglake, Right Turn, Salon, nancynall.com, CNN, Wonk Room, The Other McCain, The Moderate Voice, Jay Bookman, New York Magazine, Wonkette and Dependable Renegade
Zaid Jilani / ThinkProgress:
Fox Reverses Results Of Gallup Poll To Claim Americans Oppose Union Collective Bargaining Rights — Yesterday, USA Today and Gallup released a new poll that found that a whopping 61 percent of Americans oppose efforts like those of Gov. Scott Walker (R-WI) to strip public sector unions of collective bargaining rights.
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice, AFL-CIO NOW BLOG, US News and Talking Points Memo
RELATED:
Scott Walker / PolitiFact:
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker says he campaigned on his budget repair plan, including curtailing collective bargaining
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker says he campaigned on his budget repair plan, including curtailing collective bargaining
Discussion:
Firedoglake, Alan Colmes' Liberaland, BizTimes Daily, Reuters, The Daily Dish and JSOnline
Lydia Saad / Gallup:
Scaling Back State Programs Is Least of Three Fiscal Evils
Scaling Back State Programs Is Least of Three Fiscal Evils
Discussion:
New York Times, Washington Post, Mother Jones, FiveThirtyEight, The Note, CNN, Connecting.the.Dots, The Awl, JSOnline, WisPolitics Budget Blog and Politics Daily
Ezra Klein:
Wonkbook: Will Wisconsin spread?
Wonkbook: Will Wisconsin spread?
Discussion:
The Daily Dish, Wall Street Journal and Balloon Juice
Adam Weinstein / Mother Jones:
Indiana Official: “Use Live Ammunition” Against Wisconsin Protesters — A conservative deputy AG let his emotions get out of hand. It wasn't the first time. — Post Comment — On Saturday night, when Mother Jones staffers tweeted a report that riot police might soon sweep demonstrators …
Discussion:
Hullabaloo, TPMDC, The Raw Story, Outside the Beltway and Shakesville
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George Zornick / ThinkProgress:
Indiana Official On Wisconsin Protestors: ‘Use Live Ammunition’
Indiana Official On Wisconsin Protestors: ‘Use Live Ammunition’
Discussion:
Alan Colmes' Liberaland and The Daily Dish
Steve Benen / Washington Monthly:
WHEN THE RIGHT'S RHETORIC TURNS VIOLENT.... In the wake …
WHEN THE RIGHT'S RHETORIC TURNS VIOLENT.... In the wake …
Discussion:
Jay Bookman and Balloon Juice
Ezra Klein:
Another judge rules the individual mandate constitutional — This time it was Judge Gladys Kessler in the D.C. Circuit Court. Kessler, interestingly, rejected the idea that the individual mandate is a tax. Her ruling for the mandate's constitutionality rested on the “necessary and proper clause …
Discussion:
Outside the Beltway
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Ryan J. Reilly / TPMDC:
Federal Judge In D.C. Upholds Health Care Reform, Says Some Arguments ‘Ignore Reality’
Federal Judge In D.C. Upholds Health Care Reform, Says Some Arguments ‘Ignore Reality’
Discussion:
Ben Smith's Blog, The Atlantic Online, Politics Daily, Verum Serum, Daily Kos and iOwnTheWorld.com
Kevin Sack / New York Times:
A Third Judge Validates Health Care Overhaul Law
A Third Judge Validates Health Care Overhaul Law
Discussion:
Washington Monthly, Liberal Values, The New Republic, JOSHUAPUNDIT, Pirate's Cove, rubber hose and New York Magazine
Patrick Hynes / New Hampshire Journal:
Dem Rep to unions: Time to get ‘bloody’ — A Democratic Congressman from Massachusetts is raising the stakes in the nation's fight over the future of public employee unions, saying emails aren't enough to show support and that it is time to “get a little bloody.”
RELATED:
Michael O'Brien / The Hill:
Democrat urges unions to ‘get a little bloody when necessary’
Democrat urges unions to ‘get a little bloody when necessary’
Discussion:
Michelle Malkin, Politics, RedState, Mediaite and Atlas Shrugs
Chicago Tribune:
Chicago's next mayor: Emanuel — Ex-presidential adviser avoids runoff with 55% — Rahm Emanuel, a top adviser to two U.S. presidents who returned to Chicago just months ago, swept into the mayor's office Tuesday, inheriting a city reeling from recession and promising to reshape City Hall.
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Monica Davey / New York Times:
Emanuel Triumphs in Chicago Mayoral Race
Emanuel Triumphs in Chicago Mayoral Race
Discussion:
Politics, Hot Air, The Caucus, Fire Andrea Mitchell!, Prairie Weather, Booman Tribune and FrumForum
Matt Negrin / The Politico:
W.H.: Obama won't speak on Libya — Jay Carney said that he didn't anticipate Obama speaking about Libya. — AP Photo — White House press secretary Jay Carney told reporters on Air Force One that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will speak about Libya at 2:30 p.m. He referred questions on Libya to …
Discussion:
BBC, CNN, Babalú Blog, Sense of Events, Hit & Run and Fausta's Blog
RELATED:
Lee Smith / Weekly Standard:
The President's Deafening Silence on Libya
The President's Deafening Silence on Libya
Discussion:
Hot Air, Washington Post, Power Line, Israel Matzav, Eunomia, Right Turn, Pajamas Media, Don Surber, The Enterprise Blog, Ben Smith's Blog and Wall Street Journal
Linda Borg / Providence Journal:
Providence plans to pink slip all teachers — PROVIDENCE — The school district plans to send out dismissal notices to every one of its 1,926 teachers, an unprecedented move that has union leaders up in arms. — In a letter sent to all teachers Tuesday, Supt.
Discussion:
msnbc.com, The Greenroom, Sweetness & Light, HazZzMat, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, JONATHAN TURLEY and Wake up America
Jennifer Epstein / The Politico:
Indiana kills ‘right-to-work’ bill — Republicans in Indiana's state senate on Wednesday killed a proposed “right-to-work” bill that would have reduced the power of unions in the state. — “It was a mistake,” said Senate President Pro Tempore David Long, a Republican, at a late morning press conference, the Courier-Journal reported.
Discussion:
Courier-Journal
RELATED:
Mary Beth Schneider / Indianapolis Star:
Indiana Senate leader says right-to-work bill is dead
Indiana Senate leader says right-to-work bill is dead
Discussion:
The Daily Caller and AFL-CIO NOW BLOG
Frank Newport / Gallup:
D.C., Hawaii Still Most Approving of Obama; All States Decline — Approval is higher than average in 12 states plus D.C., lower than average in 18 states — PRINCETON, NJ — Residents of Hawaii gave native son President Barack Obama the highest average 2010 job approval rating (66%) …
Discussion:
Ballot Box, CNN, Politics Daily, The Moderate Voice, The Politico, Wake up America and The Daily Caller
John McCormack / Weekly Standard:
Video: The Daily Show Tortures a Camel in Madison — Madison, Wisc. — No joke: The Daily Show brought a camel to the protests in Madison the other day, presumably to help make fun of the Cairo/Madison comparisons. As this video shows, the gag didn't turn out so well:
Discussion:
iOwnTheWorld.com
Associated Press:
Report: Ex-minister says Gadhafi ordered Lockerbie — STOCKHOLM — Swedish tabloid Expressen says Libya's ex-justice minister claims Moammar Gadhafi personally ordered the Lockerbie bombing that killed 270 people in 1988. — Expressen on Wednesday quoted Mustafa Abdel-Jalil as telling …
Discussion:
Pajamas Media, Hot Air, Elder of Ziyon, Cubachi and Weasel Zippers